The Thailand and Cambodia conflict has escalated into deadly confrontations along the disputed border near Preah Vihear. With rising casualties, airstrikes, and diplomatic fallout, Southeast Asia faces a major regional crisis.
Historic Border Dispute Reignites into Violence
The decades-long Thailand and Cambodia conflict has erupted into its deadliest phase in over a decade, transforming tranquil rural borderlands into a war-torn flashpoint. Since early July 2025, skirmishes have evolved into full-scale confrontations involving airstrikes, landmine explosions, and escalating military mobilization.
At the center of this geopolitical tinderbox lies the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose surrounding territory has long been a bone of contention. The dispute is rooted in the colonial-era border map drawn in 1907 by French authorities, which Cambodia uses to assert its claim. Thailand, however, disputes the legitimacy of that map, citing translation errors and missing geographical markers.
ICJ Rulings Fail to Quell Tensions
The ICJ rendered a significant ruling in 1962. The sovereignty of the temple of Preah Vihear was specifically addressed in the ruling. While this should have settled the matter, tensions persisted. Cambodia’s authority was upheld by another ICJ ruling in 2013, but Thailand was not persuaded, which resulted in sporadic violent outbursts, including one that was fatal in 2011.
In this Cambodia Conflict, a Cambodian soldier’s death in May 2025 in a contested region close to the Ta Mo Thom temple sparked a further outbreak of fighting that year. Despite diplomatic pledges to de-escalate, both nations soon descended into mutual accusations, with gunfire and troop movements replacing dialogue.
Landmines and Airstrikes Fuel Nationalist Rhetoric
July brought another escalation. Several Thai soldiers were seriously injured by landmines, with Bangkok accusing Phnom Penh of breaching the Ottawa Treaty banning such weapons. Cambodia countered that the mines were remnants of past civil unrest and lay within its own borders.
The situation boiled over on July 24, when clashes erupted at dawn near the Preah Vihear and Ta Mo Thom temples. According to Thai sources, Cambodian (Cambodia Conflict) troops breached a defensive barrier and opened fire following Thai drone surveillance. Cambodia claimed the opposite: that Thailand initiated aggression with cross-border incursions.
In response, Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets, launching bombing runs on Cambodian military targets—a rare escalation in this long-standing standoff. Cambodia accused Thailand of striking civilian areas, including roads near Preah Vihear, worsening the humanitarian toll.
Civilians Flee as Border Regions Collapse
With both sides trading artillery and accusations, over 30 people have been killed or injured, and tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced. Entire villages have gone dark, with electricity, internet, and essential supplies cut off. Makeshift bunkers and trenches have become temporary shelters for families caught in the crossfire.
All commercial activity between the two nations has come to a complete halt. Due to this Cambodia Conflict, Cambodia has banned Thai imports, including fuel and cultural goods, while Thailand has tightened border controls and restricted digital communications used by Cambodian authorities.
Diplomatic Ties Severed Amid ASEAN’s Call for Peace
The Thailand and Cambodia conflict has now triggered a complete diplomatic breakdown. Both countries have recalled ambassadors, expelled embassy staff, and suspended bilateral negotiations. Cambodia has appealed to the ICJ once again, but Thailand has outright rejected any further international arbitration.
The ASEAN bloc has voiced serious concerns and called for moderation and communication. However, with Thailand’s acting prime minister currently suspended and internal political turmoil rising, Bangkok’s capacity to engage diplomatically appears weakened.
As nationalism intensifies on both sides and military forces remain entrenched, the risk of a wider regional war looms large. With neither government willing to step back, the Thailand and Cambodia conflict may spiral into an uncontrollable crisis unless international mediation steps in swiftly.
